The best smartphone of 2020: 15 top mobile phones tested and ranked

By On 24 Apr, 2020 At 12:06 PM | Categorized As Techradar | With Comments Off

Our best smartphone list brings you 15 of the top phones available right now, but if you already have your mobile OS allegiance set you may want to check out either our ranking of the best Android phones or best iPhones.

If what’s on offer in our best smartphone list is a little too pricey for your taste, then don’t fear, as we’ve also got a list of the best cheap phones available right now.

The last two months has meant big changes to this list. Our best phone ranking witnessed a big shake-up with a whole bunch of new entries appearing in the list including the OnePlus 8 Pro, iPhone SE, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and many more.

We know that it’s not all about the high-cost, super spec phones all the time so we’ve made you a handy list of all the top smartphones that you can get on the market right now, assessing what really matters to you.

We test these phones rigorously, making sure that we check every angle and feature – but most importantly, considering whether they’ve got a decent battery, great screen, strong design and a cracking camera.

On top of that, they can’t be too exorbitant in price either – not everyone wants or can afford a supercar of a handset, so we’ve made sure there are plenty of options for you there.

Our best phone list has never looked better, so let’s get started on our list of the top 15 handsets. You can see them quickly below, and then we’re set to talk you through the very best phone in the world right now.

Best phone at a glance:

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is the best smartphone available right now. That covers both the S20 and the larger Galaxy S20 Plus, as there’s very little difference between the two handsets aside from size and a couple of specs.

They take the very best of what’s on the smartphone market and put it together in a compelling package that we loved testing.

Screen: Both these devices have phone screens that are a cut above the rest, and each is capable of a 120Hz refresh rate that will allow for far smoother scrolling and gameplay on your phone’s screen.

Battery life: The battery life on the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus isn’t the best we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, but larger batteries than the S10 series allow these devices to last longer and it’ll be enough for your day.

Both devices come with wireless charging, and there’s also a Reverse Power Share feature that allows you to top up your friend’s phone too.

Camera: Samsung has improved the camera suite on the Galaxy S20 devices compared to the Galaxy S10. It may not look far better on paper, but larger pixels and improved software adds to the flagship experience.

Mini verdict: The S20 and S20 Plus are packed full of the best Samsung has to offer, and it comes together to give you the best smartphone experience around right now. If we had to pick one, we’d go for the bigger screen, larger battery slightly improved rear camera of the Galaxy S20 Plus, but both phones deserve their best phone crown.

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Want something a bit more from your iPhone? You’re in luck with the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, as they feature improved spec including a more high-end rear camera that can compete with the very best.

It’ll cost more than the iPhone 11 (which is probably the best phone for the average iPhone user), but if you’re after the very best iPhone, the Pro range is what you want.

Other than the obvious size, there’s very little difference between the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, which is why we grouped them together in our best phone roundup.

Screen: It’s the biggest decision you’ll have to make. Will you go for the 5.8-inch 11 Pro (which is easier to use one-handed) or the larger 6.5-inch 11 Pro Max (which is great for movies and gaming)? Either way, you get a great display which packs a colourful punch.

Battery life: The battery life on the 11 Pro series is slightly longer than the last few generations of the iPhone, but don’t expect anything game changing here when it comes to the length your phone will last for.

Camera: Apple has put most of its focus into the rear cameras on this device, and while the design of the rear of the phone has been controversial these cameras can create some truly stunning photography that competes with the very best camera phones.

Mini verdict: You’ll have to spend a bit extra to get the iPhone 11 Pro, but it’s well worth it if you want a phone that sports iOS 13 but comes with top-end features.

Read our in-depth iPhone 11 Pro review | iPhone 11 Pro Max review
Price comparison: The best iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max deals

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is one of the largest phones there is, but this stylus-toting handset is our third favourite phone you can buy right now.

It’s expensive, but it features some of the best specs you’ll get on a smartphone in 2020.

Screen: The screen on this phone is huge and the Infinity-O cutout means there’s little interruption to the display here, allowing for an immersive experience.

Battery life: We found the battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus to easily last the whole day, plus the fast charging tech means you’re able to pump it up quickly when you’re nearing 0%.

Camera: The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus isn’t the best on the market, but it’s impressive and offers a lot of fun features that you may want to play around with.

Mini Verdict: Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 Plus is a remarkable device, but it’s only for those who want a large phone and don’t mind spending that bit extra on a device. The S20 Plus will be more suitable for most, but the Note 10 Plus is a great phone too.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus review
Price comparison: The best Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus deals

OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro blew us away when we reviewed it, and the company is chasing Samsung and Apple on our best phones list for that very reason. While the OnePlus 8 is also an option, it’s missing many of the features we like about the Pro, which we outline below.

Screen: This 6.78-inch has the ability to impress you more than an iPhone for one simple reason: the ‘Fluid Display’ that sets the refresh rate to 120Hz. Not only does it make game look better, but simply scrolling the web looks smoother. You’ll also find nice upscaling and HDR10+ here, though false touches along the screen edges did give us trouble at times.

Battery life: If you need your phone battery to last all day long, the OnePlus 8 Pro achieves that, according to our tests. Its 4,510 battery capacity isn’t the biggest next to what Samsung’s phones are touting, but when setting the resolution to Full HD+, we did get by on a single charge very easily. We also took advantage of OnePlus (finally) adding wireless charging – in fact, it’s the fastest wirelessly charging device we’ve ever tested.

Camera: OnePlus has always lagged behind when it came to its cameras, though the OnePlus 8 Pro closes the gap. Its quad-lens array on the back of the phone allows for fine 48MP photos and a 3x optical zoom along with a 30x digital zoom. We can’t call it the best camera phone on the market, but it’s among the best cameras on an Android in this price range.

Mini verdict: It’s amazing that with Apple and Samsung’s top phones out of the way, we have the at-one-time-little-known OnePlus doing so well that it’s claimed a spot within the top 5 phones of 2020. While this version is more expensive than prior OnePlus phones, it doesn’t cut corners. You’re getting 5G, a 120Hz screen refresh rate, a great camera with 3x optical zoom, and super fast wireless charging. It’s a bit tall and only comes in one size (with the smaller OnePlus 8 a very different experience), and, to be expected, the camera is good but not good enough to rival the phones ranked ahead of it.

Read more: OnePlus Pro 8 review

There’s a new hero for iPhone fans, with the iPhone 11 offering the best mix of features and price from Apple.

The specs here aren’t as impressive as they are on the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, but the trade-off in a lower price for this device still makes it a top-buy for many Apple fans.

Screen: This isn’t the best screen you’ll find on an iPhone, but it’s still a vibrant display that’s large enough to watch video on.

Battery life: The easiest way to describe battery life on the iPhone 11 is good, but not great. You’ll get around a day of usage from the iPhone 11, but it’s not as good as the Pro Max.

Camera: Expect a similar experience from the camera on the iPhone 11 as on the iPhone XR. If you want the best camera on an iPhone, you’ll want the Pro, but it’s still an impressive shooter on the rear of the standard 11.

Mini verdict: The iPhone 11 offers some of the best features from Apple in a more affordable package. Many will be happy with what the iPhone 11 can do, but others will want to look toward the high-spec iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max to get the very best.

Read our in-depth iPhone 11 review
Price comparison: The best iPhone 11 deals

Samsung Galaxy Note 10

Yeah, that’s right – Samsung now offers two versions of its S Pen-toting Note range, and this one comes with a lower spec than the one you’ve read about earlier in this list.

The Galaxy Note 10 is better for those with smaller hands, thanks to its much smaller display and smaller dimensions, but the battery life suffers a little for that.

Screen: This may be a Samsung Galaxy Note handset, but the display isn’t anywhere near as big as you’d expect. It’s a 6.3-inch display with an Infinity-O cutout for the selfie camera.

Battery life: The battery is where the Galaxy Note 10 begins to suffer a little as we found it regularly ran out before the end of a full day, but it’s enough for average usage.

Camera: The rear camera of the Galaxy Note 10 is similar to all other flagship Samsung phones released in 2019, and it’s good but not the best we’ve seen on a smartphone.

Mini verdict: The Galaxy Note 10 isn’t as high-spec as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but if you want a stylus on a smaller phone than the gargantuan Plus then you may want to opt for this.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 10 review
Price comparison: The best Samsung Galaxy Note 10 deals

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is, indeed, ultra – billed as the ultimate Samsung phone thanks to top-of-the-line specs on paper. It’s an evolution of the max-specced Samsung Galaxy S10 5G from last year, though the Ultra’s execution isn’t the best.

Screen: The 6.9-inch Infinity-O AMOLED screen is the sharpest we’ve seen, coming in at a whopping 3200 x 1440 resolution (WQHD+) given the model’s slim bezels and the narrowest punch-hole we’ve ever seen. Plus its maximum refresh rate has been bumped up to 120Hz (though only if you bump the resolution down to FHD+) and touch sensor improved to 240Hz. It retains an in-screen fingerprint sensor, leaving the phone’s back unblemished.

Battery life: The Galaxy S20 Ultra has a massive 5,000mAh battery, which should help with the drains from the 120Hz and 5G connectivity, along with whatever Wireless PowerSharing and mundane binging or gaming you’re doing. It should last you a day or more, though we still haven’t hit the two-day battery life threshold yet.

Camera: The massive 108MP main shooter allows you to crop into photos after the fact without as much distortion. However, the appeal is limited. Serious creatives with time on their hands may get use out of this feature more than most people. While there is a 16MP ultra-wide lens roughly akin to that from last year’s phone, it’s the zoom capabilities that take the cake. The 100x ‘Space Zoom’ is mostly for showing off, as photos at that zoom are muddied – but scan it back out and it will blow other phones out of the water, especially since the competition typically maxes out at 10x. Here, see our massive S20 Ultra camera test for a deep dive.

Mini verdict: The S20 Ultra is truly cutting-edge, with a 100x ‘Space Zoom’ and, yes 5G, capabilities compatible with both mmWave and sub-6 networks. But you’ll pay a premium for the privilege: the phone starts at $1,399, and while its camera has unbelievable specs, like a 108MP sensor, it doesn’t always get exposure or autofocus right, leading us to recommend the S20 Plus.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi Note 10

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is close to perfection, but it just doesn’t quite make that. That said, we gave it a 4.5 star review, and it’s a cheaper alternative to a lot of the other phones you’ll find on this list. For those two reasons, this may be your next smartphone.

Screen: The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 comes with a beautiful 6.47-inch display that has curved edges and a fingerprint sensor embedded into it. It’s a great size, it looks amazing and it adds to the overall sleek look of the phone.

Battery life: There’s a massive 5,260mAh battery inside the Xiaomi Mi Note 10, and while on paper that looks fantastic we found it to be about the same as your average phone. It’ll last you a full day of normal usage, but don’t expect a longer life than a full day.

Camera: Here’s the highlight of the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 – it comes with a 108MP camera. Not a typo, that’s a 108MP shooter. Saying it takes great pictures is an understatement. Some of the phone’s rear cameras feel a little inconsistent, but we’ve still found this phone to be one of the best camera phones around.

Mini verdict: The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is a great choice if you’re looking for a cheaper Android phone that doesn’t lose out on much spec. The chipset isn’t fantastic so it won’t always offer the very best power out of any of the devices on this list, but considering its price and camera you may want to consider this.

Read more: Xiaomi Mi Note 10 review

iPhone SE review

The iPhone SE 2020 is the sequel to the one-hand-friendly iPhone from 2016, and it takes the power and specs we loved from the iPhone 11 series and crams them into the design of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8.

Screen: This new iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch screen borrowed from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, so it’s bigger than the original iPhone SE, but remains one-hand-friendly. That’s become important for people who have been demanding a smaller phone. This is the one to get, even if the resolution and bezel won’t wow anyone.

Battery life: As long as you aren’t a power user (who would likely opt for the iPhone 11 series anyway), then you’ll be OK with what Apple offers in terms of battery life. It’s not going to last you any longer than a day, though, with generally the same amount of power as we saw on the iPhone 8, which had a 1,821mAh battery capacity.

Camera: For the money, the iPhone SE 2020 takes perfectly fine photos in good light. You won’t notice much of a difference outside of it occasionally failing to nail perfect exposure levels and depth of field outdoors during the daytime. Dim the lights, however, and you’ll notice one glaring omission: the night mode that’s on the more powerful iPhones. That requires an upgrade to at least the iPhone 11.

Mini verdict: This isn’t Apple’s most powerful iPhone, but it’s the best value for people who want to stick with iOS 13 without paying through the nose. Its screen technology won’t wow you like an iPhone 11 Pro, and there’s just one camera on the back, but starting £419 means this is hard to be if you’re on a budget and don’t want to switch to Android.

Read more: iPhone SE 2020 review

The OnePlus 7T Pro was the best smartphone from the Chinese phone manufacturer. Now it has been usurped by the OnePlus 8 Pro, but the OnePlus 7T Pro is still a top choice and it’s cheaper than ever.

Screen: One of the highlights of the 7T Pro is its gorgeous, large display. It can compete with any other top-end handset you may be considering, and beats some of them when it comes to price.

Battery life: The battery performs admirably, matching the 7 Pro and perhaps even exceeding it in some regards. We found it would comfortably last a whole day on a single charge, even with extensive usage..

Camera: The OnePlus 7T Pro can take very good shots, but it doesn’t have the best camera we’ve seen on a smartphone – one of the small compromises to keep costs down. Still, you’re getting three powerful rear snappers and a selfie camera on the front.

Mini verdict: The OnePlus 7T Pro is an impressive handset that costs less than a lot of the competition, while offering an almost full suite of flagship features. Opt for the OnePlus 8 Pro if you want the full blown flagship experience.

Read our full OnePlus 7T Pro review
Price comparison: The best OnePlus 7T Pro deals

Samsung Galaxy S10

Previously, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus were our best smartphones in the world. That’s no longer the case with the introduction of the S20 range, but these are still two fantastic phones.

There’s a lot of high-spec here, and with the S20 range on the market the prices of these handsets have dropped significantly too.

Screen: The Super AMOLED display previously measured as the very best around and while that’s no longer the case the phone does still have a strong screen. Plus, there’s a fingerprint scanner embedded in the display.

Battery life: The battery life on the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus was an improvement over the S9 series, thanks to the larger batteries inside. They easily reach bedtime with double digits still left in the tank.

Camera: The trio of cameras on the S10 and S10 Plus are still impressive although they may not be the best on the market. The setup on each builds on the excellent S9 series by offering more features, shooting modes and overall clarity.

Mini verdict: The Galaxy S10 phones are no longer the powerhouse devices they once were, but if you’re looking for a slightly more affordable phone choice these will be a great choice for your next smartphone.

The Google Pixel 4 XL is a handsome phone in its simplicity, perfect for those looking for a handset with fewer features to be confused by.

It’s the photography prowess that really excites us about the Pixel 4 XL however, with this phone capable of producing stunning shots, even in the middle of the night.

Screen: The 6.3-inch display is colourful, detailed and noticeably smooth thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate, which doesn’t only make scrolling web pages and social fluid, but also helps when it comes to gaming. Win, win.

Battery life: This is admittedly the weak point of the Pixel 4 XL, with the phone just about last a day on a single charge, but the likelihood is you’ll need to top it up when you hit early evening.

Camera: There are just two cameras on the rear of the handset, but boy do they perform. Google’s improved its Night Sight mode and added in astro-photography chops to really wow you when the sun goes down.

Mini verdict: The Pixel 4 XL is the pragmatist’s flagship, eschewing the shimmering gradients and waterfall-edged displays of the Galaxy Note 10 or Mate 30 Pro in favour of bold-hued simplicity. If you like shooting photos without much fuss, this is for you.

Read our in-depth: Google Pixel 4 XL review
Price comparison: The best Google Pixel 4 XL deals

Honor View 20

The Honor View 20 is the best phone to come out of the Chinese brand, with a striking rear design (which may divide opinion), plenty of power under the hood, an impressive 48MP camera and a ‘punch-hole’ display which ushers in the post-notch revolution.

However, we’re sad to say, it now comes with a huge caveat. After Google suspended parent-company Huawei’s future access to Android Play Store and security updates, there are serious question marks over the future of Honor phones.

While Google and Huawei have promised to support phones currently on the market, it’s not clear how long they’ll receive Android updates or access to the Google Play Store, which would severely curtail their usefulness compared to the competition.

Screen: There’s a huge 6.4-inch display on the View 20, giving you plenty of space to play with. It’s the location of the front-facing, 25MP camera within the screen which is the real talking point though, as rather than appearing in a bezel or a notch which juts into the screen, it’s surround by screen. It’s different, but will it catch on?

Battery life: The Honor View 20 has a big 4,000mAh and the result is a battery which will comfortably last through an entire day and into the next on a single charge.

Camera: The View 20 is the world’s first smartphone to boast a 48MP rear camera, as the firm has used Sony’s new sensor to provide a camera which really packs a punch.

Mini verdict: An ultra-high-resolution camera and punch hole screen are the highlights on the Honor View 20, and they set a standard this year’s more expensive phones will need to match.

Read more: Honor View 20 review
Price comparison: The best Honor View 20 deals

There may be new Galaxy S phones on the market, but Samsung hasn’t unveiled a replacement for the Galaxy S10e. That means this is still one of the most affordable Samsung flagship phones, and it’s remaining in this list.

The Galaxy S10e has many of the flagship features of its pricier Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus siblings, while offering a more palm-friendly size and a few compromises to help keep the cost down.

Screen: You don’t get a QHD resolution here, instead you’ll have to accept a Full HD+ 5.8-inch screen – but the Super AMOLED display provides plenty of colour and pop.

Battery life: We found battery life lasted a day on a single charge – which is what we’ve come to expect from phones – plus its wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare making topping it up, and you other devices, even easier.

Camera: The dual camera setup on the S10e isn’t quite as good as the triple cameras on the S10 and S10 Plus, but they’re still highly capable snappers producing quality photos with ease.

Mini verdict: It’s hard not to recommend the S10e to anyone who prefers a smaller phone. Size queens, look elsewhere – this smartphone is for folks who want to text and browse apps one-handed without compromising performance.

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S10e review
Price comparison: The best Samsung Galaxy S10e deals

Best Android Phone — Image Credit: TechRadar

The Huawei P30 Pro was so close to being the best smartphone in 2019, and it’s just clinging onto this list in 2020. It has since been usurped by the Huawei P40 Pro, but we’ve left the P30 Pro in this list as it continues to have access to Google Mobile Services unlike the P40 range.

Screen: The large 6.47-inch screen on the P30 Pro may ‘only’ have a Full HD+ resolution, but it’s bright, clear and colourful providing an excellent canvas for your apps and games.

Battery life: There’s no worry when it comes to the P30 Pro potentially running out of juice, the battery life here is excellent. We regularly got to the end of the day with 30% or more left in the tank.

Camera: The cameras are the P30 Pro’s real party piece, providing staggeringly good 5x and 10x zoom, and a digital 50x zoom with gets you insanely close to objects far off in the distance. Its low-light capabilities are also top-notch.

Mini Verdict: The P30 Pro not only set a new standard for Huawei, it set a new standard for the mobile industry. Its cameras were quite simply astonishing in 2019, the design is eye-catching and the power plentiful. It’s a true flagship smartphone, and it’s much cheaper in 2020.

Read more: Huawei P30 Pro review
Price comparison: The best Huawei P30 Pro deals

You’re at the end of our best smartphone guide, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you still – if you’re stuck on which model is for you, we’ve got a tool that can compare all the phones together and you can decide which one suits you best based on the cost.

If you want to get all the info, then use the tool below or check out our full mobile phone deals page.

The best smartphone of 2020: 15 top mobile phones tested and ranked

Best phone at a glance:

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